Timing of Physical Activity May Be Important When Learning Something New

Most of the people we find lifting weights in the gym or running laps around the track are doing so to improve their physique. While there are people who exercise to improve their mood, it’s safe to say that few do so to improve their ability to retain memories or even ward off neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. In a recent study, published in the Cell Press journal Current Biology, the Donders Institute at the Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands analyzed the impact physical activity has on the brain’s ability to consolidate memories. Their findings show that anyone looking to retain important information should exercise four hours after learning it to make sure it sticks. Continue.